Moving out is a hassle, and unexpected moves make it even worse. Large rent increases that come out of nowhere, a fire that makes your apartment unlivable, or your landlord selling the property can all mean you are left facing a sudden and unexpected move.

The list of tasks can seem endless between gathering packing supplies, getting enough money to move, preparing important documents, and finding a moving company you can trust.

Whether you’re moving out for the first time or got a dozen move-outs under your belt, we’ve compiled a few tips for moving out to help you make your next move easier and maybe even save some money with renters insurance.

Let’s dive into our top moving tips.

1. Use a Checklist To Keep Tasks Organized While Moving

2. Create a Home Inventory To Track Your Belongings

3. Plan for the Future if You’re Sharing a Lease With a Roommate

4. Find a Reliable Insurance Provider

5. Don’t Let Your New Landlord Force You To Pick a Specific Insurance Provider

6. Avoid Immediately Canceling Your Policy if You Go From Renting to Homeownership

7. Add the New Address to Your Renters Insurance Before the Move

8. Get Renters Insurance Even if the Move Is Temporary

Put These Tips for Moving Out To Use and Get a Quote

1. Use a Checklist To Keep Tasks Organized While Moving

Having a moving checklist helps you break down what you need to do in bite-sized, completable chunks of work, reducing the feeling of being overwhelmed and clarifying your objectives.

And if things get out of hand and you're feeling stuck, you can consult your moving checklist to get back on track in no time. Goodcover's moving checklist helps you organize & prioritize your tasks in an efficient way.

2. Create a Home Inventory To Track Your Belongings

Moving can be a stressful experience, filled with worries about lost or damaged items. But there’s a simple and powerful solution to help you keep track of your items when packing and unpacking and ensure nothing goes awry. That solution is the home inventory checklist!

With a detailed home inventory, you’ll have peace of mind as you transition into your new home, whether you DIY the move or hire professional movers.

Here’s the kicker: a home inventory also comes in handy if you encounter any unfortunate issues like theft or vandalism that you need to claim on your renters insurance.

If you’re still packing and don’t know how to start, here’s a quick guide to creating a home inventory.

3. Plan for the Future if You’re Sharing a Lease With a Roommate

Splitting the rent with a roommate helps alleviate the monthly expenses that come with living alone. But it’s important to get on the same page about financial matters from the beginning – especially renters insurance.

For example, you could make arrangements with your soon-to-be roommate to share a renters insurance policy before moving in. Doing so means you can split the cost with them as well as the deductible when you file claims.

Conversely, make sure to cut ties with any financial commitments related to previous leases with roommates when moving out. After all, if the lease you used to share with a roommate continues, you may still be on the hook for rent or lose your security deposit.

Avoid issues by always reviewing your lease rules and roommate agreement before parting ways. To find answers to related questions, check out this article about renters insurance and roommates.

4. Find a Reliable Renters Insurance Provider

With so many insurance options, picking the right provider can be overwhelming. But there’s no question that renters insurance can help you during a move.

To make the right choice, you need to identify your reasons for getting renters insurance in the first place.

Some key things to look out for are insurers providing actual cash value (ACL) instead of replacement cash value (RCL), as well as deductibles, policy limits, and rates aligning with your specific needs and monthly income (more on that below).

Determine How Much Insurance You Need

Moving costs can get expensive, and while renters insurance won’t cost a fortune, the costs do add up if you’re not careful. To keep expenses down, make sure you’re not paying more for your coverage than necessary.

Check out this article to determine how much renters insurance you really need. And take the time to evaluate the value of your belongings — if you don’t know how you can always use a home furnishing cost calculator.

5. Don’t Let Your New Landlord Force You To Pick a Specific Insurance Provider

Landlords typically require renters to buy a renters insurance policy. But what if they’re forcing you to choose a specific provider?

More often than not, going with an insurance provider your landlord has chosen leads to a potential conflict of interest. Next thing you know, you’re stuck with a policy that’s expensive and inadequate for your needs.

If you find yourself in this awkward position, knowing your rights when choosing renters insurance will help. Use that knowledge to guide you as you talk with your landlord to reach an agreement that respects your right to choose your provider.

6. Avoid Immediately Canceling Your Policy if You Go From Renting to Homeownership

Moving from renting to homeownership can get complicated, and it pays to stay protected.

There can be a couple of months' wait between closing on your new home and moving in. Depending on how your lease timing worked out, you may need temporary housing for a few months and storage for your belongings. Renters insurance can help cover those costs.

And if your belongings are damaged or stolen along with the moving truck during the move, your policy will cover that too — but only if the policy is still active.

Remember: unexpected events happen, and renters insurance coverage can go a long way to mitigate the damage they may cause.

Whether Rental or New Home, Stay Insured Between Moving Dates

If there’s a gap between your moving-out and moving-in dates, you need to find a temporary place to stay, whether it’s an Airbnb property, a hotel, or a short-term rental property.

If your moving budget is an issue, check if you have any nearby friends or family (your parents’ house, maybe?) who can provide you with temporary accommodation.

If your temporary home doesn’t have enough space to hold all your stuff, or your new rental is smaller than your previous home, consider renting a storage unit. Just be sure to let your renters insurance company know what’s up.

With Goodcover, you can rest easy that possessions that are held in storage are protected against theft (for a percentage of your total personal property coverage).

7. Add the New Address to Your Renters Insurance Before the Move

Because many landlords require renters insurance, you’ll usually need to change your renters insurance address before you move long-distance to a new state or within the same city or town.

Goodcover makes it easy to change your address from your Member Dashboard and set the effective date so you’re still covered while living in your current place. That way, you can have the peace of mind in knowing you're protected during the transition.

It also doesn’t hurt to reassess if you’re getting the proper coverage with your provider before updating your policy. The moving process is a time of transition, making it the perfect time to review your coverage.

But don’t get trigger-happy. Before canceling a renters insurance policy, review your current policy’s terms and conditions, and weigh the pros and cons of switching providers.

8. Get Renters Insurance Even if the Move Is Temporary

Yes, even temporary moves call for renters insurance. For one thing, most landlords require tenants to buy a renters insurance policy, even if the lease expires in a few months.

That said, even if your landlord doesn’t require you to buy a policy, renters insurance for short-term rentals is still worth it. Getting a longer-term policy than you need and planning to cancel early may sound easy enough, but your insurance provider might try to give you grief about it.

Short-term policies are designed for short stays and digital nomads. Take advantage of them.

Put These Tips for Moving Out To Use and Get a Quote

Moving doesn't have to be a pain. With the right preparation and a solid game plan, your transition to a new apartment, house, or rental can be a lot smoother than you think.

With so many things up in the air during a move, making sure you're financially protected takes priority. Understanding renters insurance coverage and finding the right policy can make all the difference.

To put your mind at ease during your move, consider a Goodcover policy that offers the protection you require. Don't wait — get a quote today.

Note: This post is for informational purposes; insurance regulation and coverage specifics vary by location and person. Check your policy for exact coverage information.

For additional questions, reach out to us – we’re happy to help.